White Heat

Togashi and his friend leave their post at the Okutowa Dam to go rescue two lost climbers in a blizzard. The situation turns worse and Togashi heads back to get help. In the storm his friend dies saving one of the climbers and Togahi is left with guilt. Not long afterward, during another storm, a group of terrorists take over the damn threatening to blow it up. Togashi is outside the Dam when the attack comes so he's the only one who has a chance to save the hostages including the fiancée of his deceased friend.

This is one of those movies that you want to be better than it is. Its not bad but its not quite a slam bang action film like the Die Hard movies, which, unfortunately, is what it closely resembles. The problem with this film is that its very talky. This is, I suppose, in keeping closer to the way a situation like this would go, but at the same time they put it together to seem to be a Die Hard like film so I expected a bit more. If you run across it and want to see a different sort of action film I'd give it a try.

This is an astounding action movie. Similar to Die Hard, but in some ways better (if you like Japan films). The lead character is more likable, for one thing. He is just an ordinary guy- not heroic nor an ex-cop. He gets injured and is placed in an extraordinary situation- as a lone fighter against a ruthless gang of terrorists who have seized HIS dam. The only things he has going for him are his intricate knowledge of the dam, plus a deep-seated fear of not being a coward (as he was misunderstood during a past failed rescue where his co-worker froze to death). This combination brings out a desperation that drives him beyond his pain and beyond his normal abilities. The terrorists are lead by a genius who has everything well planned, his gang is loaded with big guns, and the odds are overwhelming against the dam worker turned hero. This is a real classic action movie- one of the best ever made (if you like Japan films).

This movie is a very entertaining mixture of "Die Hard", "Cliffhanger", "The Fugitive" and "The great silence" with a little touch of Asian culture, a very emotional background and a couple of smart little twists in the ending.

Even though this movie copies from some of the mentioned originals and hasn't the usual uniqueness and creativity of the Asian cinema, this flick is high paced and entertaining as well as addicting from the beginning to the end so that it should please to any fan of action thrillers. I must admit that I prefer this professional and energetic Japanese movie to the endless follow ups of many of the more and more repetitive and faceless originals or trendy remakes. Even more conservative fans of solid suspense movies should adore this movie that takes some bits and pieces from the best examples to fusion it to an own explosive movie.

The three best elements of the movie are first of all the stunning Japanese winter landscapes, the great development of the credible main characters from a mourning coward to a responsible saviour and the high paced, surprising and in the end very emotional closing scenes.

If you happen to like the mentioned movies, make sure to check this one out as it is one of the best of its kind from the last decade and worth to be purchased.

Rumor has it that if they ever got around to making a Cliffhanger 2 it was going to take place at a dam. Suffice it to say, the idea obviously had some merit and the Japanese film industry has turned out a fine effort. When terrorists seize control of the largest dam in all of Japan, a controller at the dam is forced to become an unwillingly hero. It is not for the sake of his fellow workers held hostage or his dead friend's fiancee who happens to be visiting that he does this, but rather for the dam itself. The action is so-so, but this guy is also an expert mountain climber so it allows the action to move outdoors and create some interesting situations. Overall, the film was something different and I would recommend it if you like action cinema from another source.

Like everyone here say it's Japan version of DieHard & Cliffhanger (due to scene on snow mountains)

Also the heroine character is unnecessary. Maybe she was added because back then she's the face of Japan actress. Probably the most famous Japan heroine at that time.

Also near the end, the mini avalanche hits helicopter but the the hero is unaffected & unharmed, the final minutes seems like taking forever etc really takes away what the movie could be.

Also the lame ending yeah we get it blabla, totally unnecessary to add beautiful woman in desolated mountain terrorist attack, because. Why not? Shake my head thinking bout that.